Triazo-nitrate explosives and process of producing the same



. Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BERG-Em, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 1'0 E. I. DU .PON'I. DE

NEMOUBS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OE DELA- WARE. c

TRIAZO-NITRATE EXPLOSIVES AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

No Drawing.

My invention relates particularly to ex plosives containing one or more triazo groups and one or more nitrate roups, but it has relation especially to exp osives in which a hydrocarbon has attached thereto one or more of each of said groups, as well as the process of producing the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a new type of explosive of the above character combining in part the explosivegorupings of two well known high explosives, lead azide and nitroglycerine. The object of my invention is particularly to provide explosives of this type in which one or more triazo groups as well as one or more nitrate (ON groups are attached to a hydrocarbon. The simplest example of such an explosive is triazo-ethanol-nitrate,

an explosive having greater strength and sensitiveness than nitroglycerine.

example, they may be made by treating a triazo alcohol with mixed acids. For instance, if the triazo alcohol to be treated is triazo-ethanol N,CH CH OH, the explosive obtained therefrom will be triazo-ethanolnitrate N CH,CH ONO Again, in case a triazo polyhydrio alcohol, as, for example, a

triazo glycol, is nit-rated, triazo propylene glycol dinitrate Application filed June 18, 1926. Serial No. 116,977.

this purpose anyof the triazo alcohols used for nitration in this way may be prepared from the corresponding.halohydrins by any of the known methods ofreplacing the halo gen the triazo group, as, for example, as descn ed by Forster and Fierz. in J. Chem.

Soc. (1908) 931865, relating to the treat-- -ment of ethylene chlorohydrin with sodium azide.

In carrying out my invention, for example, in the preparation oftriazo-ethanolnitrate I may add one part by weight of triazo ethanol to two parts bv weight of mixed acids comprising {approximately 40% nitric acid and sulphuric acid, either in the absence of water or with not more than l0% water present, the temperature being kept' between 0 and 5 C. The triazo ethanol nitrate formed collects on the surface of the waste acid and may be drawn 01f therefrom and washed repeatedly until neutral, with the aid of a weakly alkaline water solution such as a 5% solution of sodium carbonate in water. The triazo-ethanol-nitrate obtained is a colorless, neutral mobile oil having a specific gravity of about 1.3. It has considerably greater sensitiveness to mechanical shock than nitroglycerine, as shown by the drop weight method. Furthermore, it has a somewhat greater strength than nitroglycerine, as shown by the ballistic mortar test. J

Triazo-ethanol-nitrate as prepared above is a high explosive in itself and may be used either alone or in combination with the usual ingredients of dvnamite to make a dynamite of great strength and sensitiveness. It may be used in a dynamite comprising nitroglycerineror its equivalent, as, for example,

Parts by weight. Triazo-ethanol-nitrate Glycerine trinitrate 15 Sodium nitrate 5'? Wood meal 12 Chalk 1 It is also to be understood that any of the triazo nitrate explosives may be used in accordance with my invention as" a substitute "for nitroglycerine in anv'of the explosive compositions in which the latter is used, as, .for example, in any of the known dynamite compositions. For example, such explosives together with the wood meal. Also, other mineral fillers may be used instead of or together with the chalk hereinabove referred to. 1

It is to be understood, however, that in all the above compositions the proportions may vary widely as to each and all of the ingredients, according to the particular uses to which the explosive is' to be applied.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that man changes may be made therein without eparting from the spirit of the same. v

I claimi 1. An explosive compound containing a triazo group and a nitrate group.

triazo group and a nitrate 2. An explosive compound comprising a hydrocarbon ester containing a triazo group and anitrate group. r y

3. An explosive compound. comprising an aliphatic hydrocarbon. ester containing a a triazo nitrate by the nitration of a triazo- 60' aliphatic alcohol. I n

8. The process which comprises producing a triazo nitrate by the nitration of triazoethanol.

9. The recess which'comprises producing a triazo nitrate by the nitration of a triazo alcohol, decanting the nitrate layer and washing the same with an alkaline solution.

10. The process which comprises producing a triazo nitrate by the nitration of a triazo aliphatic alcohol, decanting the nitrate layer and washing the same with an alkaline solution. A

11. The process which comprises producing a triazo nitrate by the nitration of. triazo-ethanol, decanting the nitrate layer and washing the same with an alkaline solution.

In testimony that I claim the .foregoing, I have hereunteset my hand this 11' day of June, 1926.

FRANK H. BERGEIM. 

